Manhattan Review Test Prep Services in Honolulu (Hawaii)

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Honolulu is a popular city on the Hawaiian island of Oahu for people who are looking to continue their education, launch a career, or generally take the next step in their lives. With a greater than average number of residents in the Honolulu area pursuing higher education, competition at universities is becoming increasingly fierce. Because of this, students may find themselves looking to advance their odds of getting into the school of their dreams by seeking out study assistance when preparing for a particular standardized exam. Students in the Honolulu area looking to set themselves up for academic and professional success should look to Manhattan Review for the greatest variety of local options in standardized test prep. Students who choose to work with Manhattan Review have a wide variety of options to choose from in their course of study, whether they are focusing on the GMAT, GRE, LSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, or IELTS.

Students who work with Manhattan Review will have access to experienced instructors who have helped many students in and around the Honolulu area with their standardized test prep. We are proud to offer test prep options including classroom-style group courses, online courses, and private tutoring sessions. Whether you prefer to learn in the company of others, need the flexibility of online instruction, or desire the individualized attention only available through private tutoring, we have an option that is certain to work for you and your schedule. Manhattan Review has been providing world-class test prep for students and professionals since 1999, and we pride ourselves on keeping our curricula and practice tests updated to ensure students have an accurate reflection of the formatting and content of the most frequently taken standardized tests.

Oahu boasts the highest population of all the Hawaiian Islands and is home to the state capital of Honolulu. Honolulu has the distinction of being the westernmost and southernmost of all major US cities, and this important port is a hub for business, finance, hospitality, and military defense in the Pacific Ocean. Honolulu is a diverse locale comprised of Asian, Western, and Pacific cultures, and this diversity is reflected in the city's local demographics, cuisine, activities, and traditions.

The name "Honolulu" means "sheltered harbor" in Hawaiian, and this city has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845, beginning with the independent Hawaiian kingdom and continuing through becoming a territory before eventually joining the United States in 1959. The city is perhaps best known for being the home of Pearl Harbor, a naval base attacked by Japan on December 7^th, 1941. The act prompted the US to assume an active role in World War II, a decision that has been studied and portrayed in countless films and books. Pearl Harbor continues to function as a naval base and serves as the home of the US Pacific Fleet, the world's largest navy.

Education is important in Hawaii, and Honolulu is proud to serve as the home for three world-respected international research institutions. The Pacific Forum is a leading non-partisan research institute focused on ensuring Asian perspectives are included when sharing project findings and recommendations with global leaders, governments, and members of the general public. The East-West Center is an educational and research-focused organization created by Congress in 1960 to strengthen relations between peoples and nations of the US, Asia, and the Pacific. And the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies is an institute associated with the United States Department of Defense, created to address regional and global security issues arising in and around the Pacific Rim. In addition to highly regarded research and security institutions, Honolulu is also home to the main offices of the University of Hawaii, as well as Chaminade University, Hawaii Pacific University, and Honolulu Community College. 

Beloved for its sun-drenched climate, Honolulu is a popular tourist destination and draws visitors from all around the world. On an average day, Honolulu will entertain anywhere from 7,000 to 11,000 visitors, most of whom are there to enjoy the sunshine and extensive beaches. Temperatures vary depending on the season, with average high temperatures reaching between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit and average low temperatures falling between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Rain tends to occur from October through early April, and Honolulu enjoys an average of 278 days of sunshine each year. While the city is located in the tropics, hurricanes, tornadoes, and waterspouts are quite rare, making this a beautiful and safe destination to live in or visit. Honolulu Harbor features two cruise ship terminals, and the Hawaiian Islands are a popular cruise destination for Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, and Carnival Cruise. Water activities abound, including surfing, paddle boarding, jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, diving, and windsurfing. Honolulu is home to countless surf schools, and the city is one of the most popular and sought-after surfing destinations around the world.

Given its beautiful water and sandy shores, it's no wonder Honolulu is a popular destination for those who love the beach. Hanauma Bay is a marine embayment located along the southeast coast of Oahu and while wildly popular, the once-pristine environment has suffered from the effects of overtourism. Steps have been taken to return the area to its natural state, including limiting the number of visitors each day, closing the park on Mondays and Tuesdays, and presenting videos to first-time visitors on the importance of caring for the fragile ecosystem. 

For those who prefer to enjoy their time off the water, Honolulu boasts a variety of exciting and educational opportunities. The Bishop Museum is the city's largest museum and features a collection of natural history specimens, as well as the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts. The Honolulu Museum of Art features an impressive collection of Islamic art and serves as the state's single contemporary art museum. The Honolulu Zoo serves as Oahu's main zoological institution, and the Waikiki Aquarium is a working marine biology laboratory. The history of Honolulu is filled with a deep appreciate for botany, and visitors can enjoy colorful flowers and plants of all shapes and sizes at Foster Botanical Garden, Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden, and Walker Estate, to name a few places to learn more about the local biodiverse flowers. Those who enjoy music will appreciate the Honolulu Symphony, founded in 1900, making it the second-oldest US symphony orchestra west of the Rocky Mountains. In addition to the Hawaii Opera Theatre, there are several other popular live theater and music venues, including Diamond Head Theatre and Kumu Kahua Theatre. For those who enjoy hiking, there is Diamond Head, a volcanic tuff cone that is also a US National Natural Monument and offers stunning views of the ocean. 

While Honolulu has no professional sports teams, sports at the college level are greatly enjoyed, and the University of Hawaii offers spectator sports including football, volleyball, basketball, rugby, and baseball. The Great Aloha Day Run is held every year on President's Day, and the annual Honolulu Marathon draws more than 20,000 participants, with anywhere from half to two-thirds of competitors traveling from Japan for the event. The Honolulu Triathlon is an Olympic distance triathlon, and the Ironman Hawaii championships are also held in Honolulu. 

For those who enjoy diverse and delicious food, Honolulu cuisine is certain to have something for everyone, featuring recipes and spices with Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, and Portuguese influences. Local favorites include Portuguese malasadas (donuts without a hole), poke (diced cubes of raw fish), mai tai cocktails, shaved ice, and fresh seafood. Food trucks have become especially popular, and there is always a coffee shop to be found, although everyone will have their opinion on the "best" coffee in the area. 

Manhattan Review has helped a wide variety of Honolulu students pursue their individual academic goals: attending graduate school via the GMAT and GRE, college via the SAT and ACT, law school via the LSAT, and learning the English language via the TOEFL and IELTS. Students have paired the guidance they have received with their own dedication and hard work, earning themselves coveted acceptance offers to top-tier colleges and universities, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Duke University, MIT, Yale University, Princeton University, Columbia University, New York University, the University of California at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, Oxford University, the University of Cambridge, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Dartmouth College, to name but a few. Former Manhattan Review clients have used their stellar educations to establish meaningful and successful careers around the globe, counting their work with us as a significant contributor to their well-deserved success. If you, too, seek collegiate and professional success, we encourage you to contact us today to find out how we can partner with you to assist you in achieving your goals and making your dreams come true.

Meet a Honolulu Tutor: Kasey P.

Kasey P. grew up in San Diego and loved living on the West Coast. Her mother was a professor at a respected local university, and she recalls being fortunate to grow up in a home where learning was encouraged and education was viewed as a privilege. "I always knew I wanted to be a teacher," shares Kasey. "I'd sit in the lecture halls where my mom was teaching, and seeing how excited students were when they grasped something really hard…I knew I wanted to find a way to make my own positive impact on the world around me, and what better way than by helping people learn?" Kasey worked exceptionally hard in high school, competing in varsity swimming, track, and tennis, holding officer positions in student government and on the speech and debate team, and writing a regular column on literature and pop culture for her school's online newspaper. Kasey's school offered a structured group prep course for students preparing to take the SAT and while she found this helpful, she also did a few private tutoring sessions with a retired teacher, "just to make sure I wasn't overlooking anything." Kasey's hard work and dedication paid off when she obtained an impressively high SAT score that earned her offers of admission from numerous colleges and universities. 

While Kasey loved Southern California, she was also excited at the chance to live in a new place, and while her family was sad to see her leave, they fully supported her decision to attend New York University. Kasey loved her time on the East Coast and made close friends and strong professional connections during her time at NYU. Kasey double majored in education and psychology and also worked as a tutor in the university's learning center, allowing her to fulfill her dream by working with others and helping them learn. After graduating, she accepted a consulting position with a nonprofit organization focused on providing high-quality education to students with varied academic needs and diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. As she worked her way up the corporate ladder and accepted well-deserved promotions, Kasey found herself missing the direct interaction she'd had with students during her time in the classroom. When her husband was offered the chance to transfer to the Honolulu office of the company he worked for, Kasey wondered if such a big change might provide a way for her to work directly with students again. 

Shortly after moving to Oahu, Kasey was thrilled to learn about Manhattan Review's local office, and when an opening for an instructor appeared, she applied and was almost immediately welcomed to the team. Students love Kasey's patience when it comes to teaching, and they also appreciate her sense of humor and ability to use examples that stick, making concepts easier to understand. Kasey teaches group courses and also offers private tutoring, and there is regularly a wait list to work with her. "Teaching is the greatest profession in the world," she says, "although obviously I'm biased. I love working with students and hearing about their successes in college and beyond." When Kasey isn't preparing the next generation of students for their own successes, she can be found running on the beach before the sun rises, taking surfing lessons with her husband and daughter, and enjoying fresh-brewed Kona coffee.